Iran values long-standing, civilisational ties with India: Foreign Ministry

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Iran shares a long-standing, historic and civilisational relationship with India and attaches great importance to its ties with the country.

On Tuesday (September 8, 2026), the Iranian Embassy in India released a statement from Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson where he said, referring to the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, that “President Masoud Pezeshkian met with the Indian Prime Minister in Bishkek. Our relationship with India is built on long-standing civilisational and historic ties, and we highly value our partnership.”

In the first top-level meeting between Iran and India since the beginning of the war on Iran this February, Mr. Modi on August 31 met Mr. Pezeshkian in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek and urged him to ensure peace and stability in West Asia and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Talking about the 18th BRICS Summit, Mr. Baghaei said, “We will certainly make use of the opportunity provided by the BRICS Summit to continue our discussions and consultations with India in areas of mutual interest.”

Just days before the BRICS summit, Mr. Baghaei also said that Chabahar Port is one of the issues of bilateral talks between India and Iran. He said, “Various issues are usually discussed during consultations between Iran and India, including the Chabahar Port, which is important to both countries.”

The Chabahar port is being developed by India and Iran to boost connectivity and trade ties. Both countries are also strongly pitching for making Chabahar port an integral part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Chabahar provides India with direct access to Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan, which denies India land transit routes. It enhances India’s trade routes and reduces dependence on traditional maritime chokepoints.

India will be hosting the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12-13 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The summit will bring together leaders of BRICS member and partner countries as well as outreach invitees, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.